China's smog-hit capital Beijing will ban high-emission
vehicles from Wednesday as part of its efforts to combat pollution, the
official Xinhua news agency said, citing the local government.

Buildings are seen in smog during a polluted day in Beijing, China, January 26, 2017. Picture taken January 26, 2017.

Concerned
about the damage done to its reputation by persistent smog, the
municipal government promised in January that it would take
"extraordinary" measures this year to curb emissions from coal
consumption and cars.

China
is also considering tough new measures restricting industrial activity
in the region surrounding Beijing, according to a draft policy document
seen by Reuters.

Gasoline-powered
vehicles that fail to meet China's Emission Standard III will not be
allowed to enter the city's main districts on weekdays, and drivers will
be fined if they fail to comply, Xinhua said late on Monday.

Beijing
was one of 24 cities to issue a smog "red alert" at the end of last
year, allowing authorities to impose emergency restrictions on traffic
and industrial output in order to reduce emissions.

The
5.7 million vehicles on Beijing's roads account for 31 percent of the
city's hazardous breathable particles known as PM2.5, a major
constituent of smog. Cars are also estimated to be responsible for more
than 80 percent of the carbon monoxide in China's air.

China
has drawn up new rules requiring all light vehicles to adhere by 2020
to its strictest "China VI" emission standards, which are based on ones
used in Europe and the United States.

New cars in Beijing will have to adhere to the China VI standards from this year.